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Dangling Modifiers - Exercise 1

Wording may vary. Below are suggested corrections.

For help with any item below, refer to the dangling modifiers page.

1. Writing carefully, the student finished the essay in time to hand in.

Because the student wrote carefully, the essay was finished in time to hand in.

Your answer: I wrote the essay carefully, it was finished in time to hand in.

2. My flesh felt creepy after I saw a monster movie.

After seeing a monster movie, I felt creepy.

Your answer: My flesh felt creepy after I saw a monster movie.

3. When I was four, my grandmother taught me to knit.

At the age of four, I was taught to knit by my grandmother.

Your answer: When I was four, my grandmother taught me to knit.

4. To do well in college, you will need to get good grades.

For you to do well in college, good grades are essential.

Your answer: Good grades are essential for you to do well in college.

5. Crowded in the car, we were uncomfortable during the trip.

Because we were crowded in the car, the trip was uncomfortable.

Your answer: The car was crowded, so the trip was uncomfortable.

6. While still a student, she received a job offer.

 While she was still a student, a job offer was received.

Your answer: While I was still a student, I received a job offer.

7. After John had done calculus problems for hours, his foot went to sleep.

After doing calculus problems for hours, John noticed his foot went to sleep.

Your answer: After John had done calculus problems for hours, John's foot went to
sleep.

8. When we drove over the hill, the ocean came into view.

Driving over the hill, we saw the ocean come into view.

Your answer: When we drove over the hill, the ocean came into view.

9. Confused by the complicated wording, we couldn't make sense of the contract.

Because we were confused by the complicated wording, the contract made no sense.

Your answer: Because the contract was confused by complicated wording, it made no
sense.

10. After Joe cleared his throat, his voice sounded much better to me.

After clearing his throat, Joe sounded much better to me.

Your answer: After his throat was clearly, his voice sounded much better to me.

Dangling Modifiers - Exercise 2

Wording may vary. Below are suggested corrections.

For help with any of the items below, refer to the dangling modifiers page.

1. After we walked for hours, the car looked wonderful

After walking for hours, we thought the car looked wonderful.

Your answer: After I walked for hours, the car looked wonderful.

2. While I am watching a classic film, commercials are irritating.

While watching a classic film, I find commercial irritating.

Your answer: While I watch a classic film, commercials are irritating.

3. To please the children, they set off some fireworks early.

The children were pleased when some fireworks were set off early.

Your answer: Some fireworks were set off early to please the children

4. When I was twelve, my mother entered me in a contest.

At the age of twelve, I was entered in a contest by my mother.

Your answer: When I was twelve, my mother entered me in a contest.

5. Because I took good care of myself, the flu never kept me from work this winter.

By taking good care of myself, I never had to take off work for the flu this winter.

Your answer: Because I took good care of myself, the flu never kept me from work this
winter.

6. Budgeting his money carefully, he finally paid his debts.

Because he budgeted his money carefully, his debts were finally paid.

Your answer: Because he budgeted his money carefully, his debts were finally paid.

7. To lose weight, you should avoid fatty foods.

If you want to lose weight, fatty foods should be avoided.

Your answer: Fatty foods should be avoided from her to lose weight.

8. By digging test wells, they located new oil sources.

When they dug new test wells, new oil sources were located.

Your answer: They digged test wells, so new oil sources were located.

9. Dropped in the bushes, the missing keys were found by the child.
 The child found the missing keys that were dropped in the bushes.

Your answer: The child found the missing keys dropped in the bushes,

10. Carrying a heavy pile of books, she caught her foot on the step.

When she was carrying a heavy pile of books, her foot caught on the step.

Your answer: When she carried a heavy pile of books, her foot caught on the step.

Sentence Structure: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

(Exercise A)

Read each sentence carefully. If the sentence is correct, write C on the line to the
right. If the sentence contains a misplaced modifier, write MM and correct the sentence.
If the sentence contains a dangling modifier, write DM and correct the sentence.

1. When jumping the fence, the rider was thrown by his horse. ___
2. Please give the desk to Mrs. Wooten with the brass inlaid figures.
___

3. The team with the highest number of wins will capture the championship.
___
4. Diets are painful ordeals which help you lose weight. ___
5. Doctors and lawyers with white hospital coats are well- respected.
___

6. Designer jeans which cost a lot of money are worth the price because they last
forever, or at least until styles change. ___

7. Handsome men are loved by women with hairy chests. ___

8. While jogging down the street, a dog bit my neighbor. ___

9. An army which lacks proper equipment will not be an effective fighting force.
___

10. To enter the Olympics, an athlete must compete very hard. ___

11. Television influences children through its emphasis on violence.

___
12. Tommy with the red stripes is wearing a shirt. ___

13. Never buy a car from a dealer with a broken odometer. ___

14. Only give the book to Tony. ___

15. American writers who live in Europe gain new perspectives on culture.
___

16. The car was parked on the edge of a cliff which was rusty. ___

17. Country music is loved by many people because it praises simple virtues.
___

18. College students succeed in every aspect who work hard. ___

19. Hitting the tin roof, my sleep was disturbed by the rain. ___

20. Houses provide comfort for people with central air conditioning.
___

Edit the following essay for dangling and misplaced modifiers. If you see an error,
use the appropriate editing symbol (either DM or MM) to label it. Then correct the
error.

(1) I think you should meet my friends Ted and Fred someday.
(2) They are a very unusual pair.
(3) Let me illustrate what I mean.
(4) One day I decided to stop by their apartment.
(5) Ted answered the doorbell dressed in a cowboy suit and invited me in.
(6) Fred explained that their costumes were intended to help them enjoy a spaghetti-
western fully.
(7) You can imagine my chagrin when I noticed they were wearing genuine .357
Magnums.
(8) As I looked around the room, I saw clay targets broken on the floor.
(9) At that point, I began to worry about Ted and Fred.
(10) Watching the movie, I observed them very carefully.
(11) Their reactions were quite different to the western.
(12) Engrossed in the fight scenes, Ted was oblivious to his surroundings totally.
(13) Fred, on the other hand, fidgeted in his seat until the violence subsided.
(14) I started getting nervous and decided to leave.
(15) Ted, Fred, and I parted company after that day.
(16) Rumor has it that Ted tried to shoot his way out of a paper bag and that Fred
organized a posse to catch a marauding rat.
 Sentence Structure: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
(Exercise B)

Read each sentence carefully. If the sentence is correct, write C on the line to the
right. If the sentence contains a misplaced modifier, write MM and correct the sentence.
If the sentence contains a dangling modifier, write DM and correct the sentence.

1. Please give this watch with the brown stripes to the man wearing a shirt.
___

2. When diving into the water, a raft was hit by Jerry. ___

3. The car was bought from a dealer with shifty eyes. ___

4. Every girl was ecstatic who won a prize. ___

5. Because of his ability in math, the position of Chief Accountant was awarded to Jerry.
___

6. The Navy offers its recruits many opportunities. ___

7. Science has brought us many miracles which make our lives easier.
___

8. To obtain a loan, the bank officer must be seen. ___

9. While driving a car, safety must be of first importance. ___

10. Foods which are low in calories often do not taste as good as foods which contain
more calories. ___

11. Avarice is one of the seven deadly sins which is greed. ___

12. We drove our car into a service station with a flat tire. ___

13. Television with its emphasis on violence corrupts young children.

___

14. Terry bought a bike from Mrs. Smith with broken gears. ___

15. British writers gain new perspectives who live in America. ___
16. To swim the English Channel, endurance and strength are required.
___

17. Puppies are adorable with good dispositions. ___

Modifier Placement
Basic Principle: Modifiers are like teenagers: they fall in love with whatever they're next
to. Make sure they're next to something they ought to modify!

MISPLACED MODIFIER: Some modifiers, especially simple modifiers — only, just,

nearly, barely — have a bad habit of slipping into the wrong place in a sentence. (In the
sentence below, what does it mean to "barely kick" something?)

Confusion He barely kicked that ball twenty yards.

The issue of the proper
placement of "only" has
Repair Work He kicked that ball barely twenty yards. long been argued among
grammarians. Many
careful writers will insist
that "only" be placed immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. Thus "I only
gave him three dollars" would be rewritten as "I gave him only three dollars." Some
grammarians, however, have argued that such precision is not really necessary, that there
is no danger of misreading "I only gave him three dollars" and that "only" can safely and
naturally be placed between the subject and the verb. The argument has been going on for
two hundred years.

DANGLING MODIFIER: When we begin a sentence with a modifying word, phrase,

or clause, we must make sure the next thing that comes along can, in fact, be modified by
that modifier. When a modifier improperly modifies something, it is called a "dangling
modifier." This often happens with beginning participial phrases, making "dangling
participles" an all too common phenomenon. In the sentence below, we can't have a car
changing its own oil.

Confusion Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car

seemed to run better.

Repair Work Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, Fred

found he could get much better gas mileage.

A participial phrase followed by an Expletive Construction will often be a dangling

participle — but the expletive construction is probably not a good idea anyway. This
faulty sentence can be remedied by changing the participial phrase into a full-fledged
clause with a subject and verb.
 Confusion Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, there is
an easy way to keep your car running
smoothly.
Repair Work If we change the oil every 3,000 miles, we
can keep our car running smoothly.

A participial phrase followed by a Passive Verb is also apt to be a dangler because the
real actor of the sentence will be disguised.

Confusion Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car

was kept in excellent condition.

Repair Work Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, we kept

the car in excellent condition.

An infinitive phrase can also "dangle." The infinitive phrase below should probably
modify the person(s) who set up the exercise program.

Confusion To keep the young recruits interested in

getting in shape, an exercise program was set
up for the summer months.
Repair Work To keep the young recruits interested in
getting in shape, the coaching staff set up an
exercise program for the summer months.

SQUINTING MODIFIER: A third problem in modifier placement is described as a

"squinting modifier." This is an unfortunate result of an adverb's ability to pop up almost
anywhere in a sentence; structurally, the adverb may function fine, but its meaning can be
obscure or ambiguous. For instance, in the sentence below, do the students seek advice
frequently or can they frequently improve their grades by seeking advice? You can't tell
from that sentence because the adverb often is "squinting" (you can't tell which way it's
looking). Let's try placing the adverb elsewhere.

Confusion Students who seek their instructors' advice

often can improve their grades.

Repair Work Student who often seek their instructors'

advice can improve their grades.

Repair Work Students who seek their instructors' advice

can often improve their grades.
 Dangling Participle Exercises

Directions: Rewrite each of the following sentences to correct the dangling participles.

1. Blown away by the storm, the family could not find the roof to their house.
2. Climbing to the top of the hill, the view was spectacular.
3. Saddened by the news, a condolence card was sent to Fatima by her co- workers.
4. Rushing to get to the bank before 6pm, the right tire on Tom’s car blew out.
5. Sleeping with the window open, my throat was sore the next day.
6. Arguing with the teacher, the test was failed by Carol.
7. Beaten down by the weather, the farmer could not save his crops.
8. Painting by the morning light, the masterpiece was completed in record time.
9. Grading the exams, my vision became to blurry.
10. Walking through the hot desert, a new and unusual cave was found by the
explorer.
11. Searching under her bed for her term paper, an old piece of pizza was found by
Clara.
12. Talking on her cell phone and driving at the same time, the cop gave Joi a ticket.
13. Warned about the bad weather conditions, the honeymoon cruise was planned
anyway by the stubborn couple.
14. Annoyed with her little brother’s constant teasing, the door to her room was
barricading so Roli could not enter.
15. Visiting her grandmother, Dulce’s favorite brownies were waiting for her on the
kitchen table.

Practice Exercises 1

Correct the following sentences by using the rules discussed above. Possible answers
appear on
the last page of this handout.

1. Maintaining a daily exercise program, my weight seemed to decrease faster than usual.

2. To eliminate the errors, the paper needs to be rewritten.

3. While studying for my college exam, my daughter interrupted me and wanted to play

4. Drawing quite a crowd, the auditorium was packed with Garth Brooks fans.

5. Running around the block, the sidewalk seemed slicker than usual.

6. While changing the baby's diaper, the powder fell on the floor.
7. Even as an athlete who has competed in the 5k run, the dog was able to run faster than

me.

8. Carrying the groceries to the car, my foot got stuck in a pot hole.

9. Taking the chance that she might win, the lottery ticket seemed a small price to pay.

10. Having recognized the mistake, the problem seemed much easier to fix.

11. As a traveling businessman, my mom didn't get to see my dad very often.

12. While learning how to ride a bike, my knees got skinned up quite a bit.

13. Carrying the clubs for the golfers, the tees got lost by the caddy.

14. Removing the tag from the pillow, the pillowcase seemed to fit better.

15. Upon sitting down at the bar, the beer was waiting for us.

16. After removing the old songs from the jukebox, the music seemed to get better.

17. To end the trial, the documents were signed.

18. In sending the flowers to that address, the wrong house received the delivery.

19. Sparkling with flames, the water was used to extinguish the fire.

20. As a member of the school board, children are my dad's favorite topic.

21. Coloring the pages with neon crayons, the pictures seemed to come alive on the
paper.

22. Removing her hat before entering the church, the priest nodded for her to sit on the
third row.

23. Explaining the format for completing the form, the document shouldn't take too long
to fill out.

24. As a manager of a major league baseball team, my six-year-old daughter would like
to see one of our games.

25. To score a hole in one, the golf club must be just right.
Practice Exercise 1 Answers

The following revisions are just some of the options for eliminating the dangling
modifiers in each sentence. If you have different options you’re not sure of, ask a tutor to
go over them with you.

1. My weight seemed to decrease faster than usual as I maintained a daily exercise

program.
or While I maintained a daily exercise program, I seemed to lose weight faster than usual.
2. I need to rewrite the paper to eliminate the errors. or To eliminate errors, I need to
rewrite the paper.
3. While I studied for my college exam, my daughter interrupted me and wanted to play
dolls.
4. Garth Brooks fans packed the auditorium as the show drew quite a crowd.
or Drawing quite a crowd, Garth Brooks packed the auditorium.
5. The sidewalk seemed slicker than usual as I ran around the block.
6. While I was changing the baby’s diaper, the powder fell on the floor.
7. The dog was able to run faster than I, an athlete who has competed in the 5k run.
or Even as an athlete who has competed in the 5k run, I was not able to run as fast as the
dog.
8. As I carried the groceries to the car, my foot got stuck in a pothole.
9. The price of the lottery ticket seemed a small price to pay considering she might win.
10. The problem seemed much easier to fix after Sally recognized the mistake. or
After she recognized the mistake, Sally found it much easier to fix the problem.
11. My mom didn’t get to see my dad, who is a traveling businessman, very often.
or Because my dad is a traveling businessman, my mom doesn’t get to see him very
often.
12. My knees got skinned up quite a bit while I was learning how to ride a bike. or While
Iwas learning how to ride a bike, I skinned my knees up quite a bit.
13. The caddy, who carried the clubs for the golfers, lost the tees. or While carrying the
clubs for the golfers, the caddy lost the tees.
14. After Beverly removed the tag from the pillow, the pillowcase seemed to fit better.
15. The beer was already on the bar as we sat down. or Upon sitting down at the bar, we
noticed the beer was waiting for us.
16. The music seemed to get better after we removed the old songs from the jukebox.
17. The judge signed the documents to end the trial.
18. The wrong house received the delivery after Kyle sent the flowers to the wrong
address.
19. As the house sparkled with flames, the firemen used the water to extinguish the fire.
20. As a member of the school board, my dad’s favorite topic is children. or
Because he is a member of the school board, my dad’s favorite topic is children.
21. Coloring the pages with neon crayons, Brealyn made the pictures come alive on the
paper. or As she colored the pages with neon crayons, Brealyn made the pictures come
alive on the paper.
22. After Cyndi removed her hat before the entering the church, the priest nodded for her
to sit on the third row.
23. Once Jimmy explains the format for completing the form, the document shouldn’t
take long to fill out.
24. My daughter would like to see one of my major league baseball games since I am the
team’s manager.
25. In order to score a hole in one, Sara’s golf club must be just right.

Dangling Modifier Exercise

Directions: Revise the following sentences to eliminate dangling modifiers. Circle the
number of the sentence if no change is needed.

1. Walking down the street, the flowers were in bloom.

2. Baked fresh every morning, we couldn’t resist trying the bakery’s cookies.

3. Dripping with slobber, I scratched the dog’s head.

4. Wearing a neatly pressed suit, Jim was ready for his interview.

5. To succeed in school, homework must be completed.

6. Filled to the top, Jimmie drank the glass of tea.

7. Trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, Lisa is an excellent dancer.

8. The party was very fun, laughing and talking all night.

9. Tired of cold weather, a vacation to Mexico seemed like a great idea.

10. Listening carefully, I still could not understand what the teacher was saying.
 MISPLACED AND DANGLING MODIFIERS
I. A MISPLACED MODIFIER--is misplaced when it modifies, or appears to modify,
the wrong word or phrase. The best general rule for avoiding misplaced modifiers is to
place modifiers as close as possible to the words they are intended to modify.

A MISPLACED MODIFIER--can be a WORD, a PHRASE, or a CLAUSE:

A. MISPLACED WORDS:

Adverbs are especially likely to be misplaced because they can appear in several
positions within a sentence.

Examples: We almost called everyone in the department to an emergency meeting.

* The first sentence means that an emergency meeting requesting the presence of
everyone in the department was almost called, while the second sentence means that the
meeting was called, but only part of the department was asked to attend. Possible
confusion in sentences of this type can be avoided by placing the adverb immediately
before he word it is intended to modify.

B. MISPLACED PHRASES:

To avoid confusion, place phrases near the words they modify. Note the two
meanings when the phrase is shifted in the following sentences.

The equipment without the accessories sold the best. (Different types of equipment
were available, some with and some without accessories.)

The equipment sold the best without the accessories. (One type of equipment was
available, and the accessories were optional).

C. MISPLACED CLAUSES:

To avoid confusion, clauses should be placed as close as possible to the words they
modify.

Original: We sent the brochure to four local firms that had three-color illustrations.

Revision: We sent the brochure that had three-color illustrations to four local firms.

* We called almost everyone in the department to an emergency meeting.

II. DANGLING MODIFIERS:

Verbal phrases (gerund, participial, infinitive) which do not clearly and logically refer to
a noun or pronoun in the sentence are called dangling modifiers.

A. DANGLING GERUND PHRASE:

A dangling gerund phrase can be corrected by adding a noun or a pronoun for it to

modify.

Original: After finishing the research, the job was easy.

Revision: After finishing the research, we found the job to be easy.

Another way to correct a dangling gerund phrase is to make the phrase a clause.

Original: After finishing the research, the job was easy.

Revision: After we finished the research, the job was easy.

B. DANGLING PARTICIPIAL PHRASE

A participle is a word that ends in "ing" or "ed" and looks like a verb; yet it
actually is an adjective that must modify a specific noun or pronoun. If it doesn't, it is
called a dangling participle.

The three most common forms of dangling participles are caused by the writer not
observing the following rules.

1. The participle should be placed closed to the word to which it refers, and there
should be no intervening noun to which the participle might seem to refer.

Original: A complete report is submitted by our branch office, giving details

about this transaction. ("Giving" is the participle; it should modify "report," but it seems
to modify the intervening noun "office.")

Revision: Our branch office submitted a complete report, giving details about
this transaction.

CLUE: Sometimes changing the sentence from the passive to active voice will
correct the modification problem.

2. A participle at the beginning of a sentence (or at the beginning of a second

independent clause in a compound sentence) should refer to the subject of the sentence of
the independent clause.

Original: Working at full speed every morning, fatigue overtakes many of the
employees in the afternoon.
 Revision: Working a full speed every morning, many of the employees become
tired in the afternoon.

3. A participle following the main clause should refer to a definite noun, not to the
general thought expressed by the clause.

Original: These accounts disappeared from the vault, thus causing us very much
worry. (Instead of modifying a particular word, "causing" modifies the entire clause that
appears before the comma.)

Many times the idea conveyed in the dangling participial phrase should be
emphasized rather than subordinated in a modifying phrase. In order to emphasize the
idea and to get rid of the dangling modifier, the writer should transform the participial
phrase into an independent clause--

Revision: Because the accounts disappeared from the vault, we are very
worried.

C. DANGLING INFINITIVE PHRASE

Correct a dangling infinitive phrase by supplying the missing noun or pronoun that
provides the subject of the infinitive phrase.

Original: To improve typing skills, practice is needed.

Revision: To improve typing skills, you must practice.

Original: To evaluate the feasibility of the project, the centralized plan will be
compared with the present system of dispersing facility sites.

Revision: To evaluate the feasibility of the project, the committee will compare the
centralized plan with the present system of dispersing facility sites.

D. DANGLING SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

Occasionally a subject and verb are omitted from a dependent clause, forming what
is known as an elliptical clause. If the omitted subject of the elliptical clause is not the
same as the subject of the main clause, the construction dangles. Simply adding the
subject and verb to the elliptical clause solves the problem.

Original: When ten years old, his father started the company.

Revision: When Bill Krebs was ten years old, his father started the company.
Exercise 1: In the following sentences underline the modifying phrases and/or
subordinate clauses, and indicate whether the sentence is correct (C), or whether the
sentence contains a misplaced (M) or dangling (D) modifier.

Sample: __M__ Being an old customer, we know that you are familiar with our
Christmas displays.

1. _____ The check arrived six days late, causing me to write a collection letter.

2. _____ Realizing our mistake, we immediately sent a new one to replace the first
check.

3. _____ Please go down to the main office, and lying on the manager's desk you will
find a copy of the latest report.

4. _____ To enjoy a 5% earning, a savings account should be opened.

5. _____ Being a savings association, our customers do not have checking accounts here.

6. _____ When changing monthly loan payments, it will be necessary to get approval
from the loan department.

7. _____ To improve product appeal, the sales staff decided to use blister packaging.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences to correct any misplaced or dangling

modifiers.

1. If paid within ten days, you will receive a 3% discount.

2. Your new account has been approved after viewing your personal background and
excellent reputation. To familiarize you with our billing process, you will receive an
itemized bill the first of each month.

3. In reviewing your case, several questions came to my mind.

4. Before buying a car, a loan must be obtained usually.

5. To obtain the best results, the instructions must be followed closely.

6. Having been damaged in the tornado, we weren't able to inventory all the glassware.

7. To complete the research, more data must be acquired.

8. Those files are incomplete, causing the confusion in our personnel department.

9. Rushing to meet the manager's deadline, many mistakes were made.

10. I recommend her as an employee without qualification.

Exercise 3 Misplaced, Squinting and Dangling Modifiers

Rewrite the following sentences, avoiding misplaced, squinting or dangling modifiers.

There is an answer key on the next page. The first question is done for you.

1. The students packed donations of food and delivered them to the elderly who
lived locally in hampers.

The students packed donations of food in hampers and delivered them to the
elderly who lived locally.

2. He had almost lost all the buttons off his coat.

3. Convicted of murdering his wife, the judge sentenced him to life imprisonment.

4. Most accidents take place when tired.

5. When at university, my high marks in mathematics attracted the attention of my

professor.

6. Previously viewed as an exploration of the unconscious, critics now also see Alice
in Wonderland as social and political satire.

7. Standing at the hotel window, the yachts with their colourful spinnakers raced
across the bay.

8. Vacations abroad are very inexpensive when working for a hotel chain.

9. I saw descending a fire escape a policeman.

10. There was a discussion yesterday on the incidence of suicide among students in
the Dean’s office.

Answer Key

Answers will vary. Brown designates the modifier, and

violet the word being modified.

2. He had almost lost all the buttons off his coat. (original)
He had lost almost all the buttons off his coat. (correction)

3. Convicted of murdering his wife, the judge sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Convicted of murdering his wife, he was sentenced by the judge to life
imprisonment.

4. Most accidents take place when tired.

Most accidents take place when people are tired.

5. When at university, my high marks in mathematics attracted the attention of my

professor.
When at university, I earned high marks in mathematics, attracting the attention of
my professor.

6. Previously viewed as an exploration of the unconscious, critics now also see Alice
in Wonderland as social and political satire.
Previously viewed as an exploration of the unconscious, Alice in Wonderland is
now also seen by critics as social and political satire.

7. Standing at the hotel window, the yachts with their colourful spinnakers raced
across the bay.
Standing at the hotel window, I could see the yachts with their colourful
spinnakers racing across the bay.

8. Vacations abroad are very inexpensive when working for a hotel chain
Vacations abroad are very inexpensive when one works for a hotel chain.

9. I saw descending a fire escape a policeman.

I saw a policeman descending a fire escape.

Or
As I descended the fire escape, I saw a policeman.

10. There was a discussion yesterday on the incidence of suicide among students in
the Dean’s office.
There was a discussion in the Dean’s office yesterday on the incidence of suicide
among students.

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Recognizing Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Exercise: Each of the following

sentences contains an underlined phrase or clause. Indicate whether the modifier is
misplaced, dangling, or correct.

1. Flying over the countryside, the cars and houses looked like toys.
2. The messenger spoke to the receptionist who delivered the package.
3. The golfer made a hole-in-one with the green-and-white umbrella.
4. Without thinking what might be on the menu, Hugh told his hostess that he hated
broccoli.
5. After studying hard, the test was a breeze.
6. With my small allowance, the tickets were too expensive.
7. The right belongs to every American to vote in elections.
8. The house was rebuilt by the new owners destroyed by the fire.
9. At camp, home seemed very far away.
10. After finishing the dishes, we were ready to relax for the evening.

Correcting Misplaced Modifiers Exercises: Rewrite the following sentences to correct

the misplaced modifiers. Identify which word the phrase or clause is modifying.

1. A man leaped into the water over the ship’s rail.

2. Smashed beyond repair, Rob saw his watch lying on the court.
3. A banana split was served to each guest, dripping with chocolate sauce.
4. Wilkings realized the mistake he had made a moment too late.
5. The boys were spoken to sharply about loitering in the principal’s office.
6. We saved the scrap of meat for the dog that had been left on our plates.
7. Michelle bought an umbrella from a salesman with red and yellow panels.
8. The hunter crouched behind a tree waiting for a bear to come along with a bow and
arrow.
9. We saw many picturesque plantation homes driving through the South.
10. Wilma kept her trophies in a bookcase that she had won in golf tournaments.
Correcting Dangling Modifiers Exercises: Rewrite the following sentences to correct
the dangling modifiers. Identify which word the phrase or clause is modifying.

1. To get to town quickly, the highway is best.

2. While jogging one morning, the solution was suddenly obvious.
3. At the age of five, Paul’s uncle took him to the circus.
4. Wandering aimlessly in the woods, the first sight of camp was welcome.
5. After hearing of the refugees’ plight, emergency funds were made available.
6. Getting up much earlier than usual, the house seemed strangely quiet.
7. To receive the free booklet, a stamped, self-addressed envelope must be enclosed.
8. Absorbed in the puzzle, the time passed very quickly.
9. To keep up with the news, a daily paper is a must.
10. Sailing far out from shore, a squall suddenly arose.

Correcting Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Exercise: Rewrite the following

paragraph to correct any misplaced or dangling modifiers.

Stan is a successful architect and interior designer whose custom-built homes stagger
the imagination. Priced beyond what the average person can afford, his unique inspiration
can be seen in the house on the corner. The front of the house is made entirely of glass.
Extended outward from the second floor, eight vertical steel pillars support a balcony.
Within the center of the house, a huge tropical aquarium rests on a marble floor five feet
in diameter. A wrought iron staircase winds its way around the aquarium connecting the
first and second stories. Recessed in the ceilings, each room is softly lit by fluorescent
lights. To enjoy music in any location, there is a dial on the wall next to the thermostat. In
the winter, fireplaces provide warmth; in the summer, cool air is circulated by fans. By
closing your eyes and dreaming, the house can become yours.